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Democrats win the house!

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Democrats win the house!

And so it begins...

from JoeUser Forums

I can't say I'm happy that Republicans have lost the house of representatives.  I went out and voted today. My votes tended to be for Republicans overall. I don't consider myself to be a Republican but given the choices, I'm going to vote for the people who come closest to representing my views as long as they have worked within a certain threshold of what my expectations are.

Since I'm in Michigan, in Wayne County, that basically means that the incumbants are Democrats anyway.

Nation wide the Republicans didn't just lose. They got CRUSHED. What conservatives have been warning the GOP about for months has finally come to pass.  Only in the last month did the GOP wake up and realize just how pissed off the right of center population of the United States is. They're pissed off at what appears to be corrupt and lazy Republicans who don't represent their values anymore.

When they right did wake up, GOP idealogues like Rush Limbaugh had the audacity to blame US for the GOP's problems. In a text book case of shoot the messenger, GOP labeled me and others like me as "cut and run conservatives" for daring to say that given how poorly the GOP has been in the house (and senate) that it wouldn't be the end of the world if the Democrats win.

Well, now they have. The Democrats are in charge and in the next two years we'll get to see if, once in power again, behave like a bunch of fringe kooks like so many of their leaders and supporters are. Or whether it will be, as many of us expect, not quite as bad as one might think.

So...

Why did the Republicans lose?

  1. Their base didn't come out in strength. The house Republicans, who once promised to get rid of things like the Department of Education saw instead a huge increase in funding. In fact, money for pork was available all around. The GOP, in power, decided that our money was really their money after all. Worse, they didn't get very much done. Only at the 11th hour did they finally -- and only because of the election -- finally throw some meat back to their supporters in the form of a border security policy which wasn't even comprehensive (not that I favor Bush's quasi-amnesty plan but we do need vastly increased guest worker programs).
  2. The war in Iraq motivated many moderates and Democrats to come out. I happen to be in the camp that supported the war and is still glad we removed Saddam. But I am scratching my head as to why, exactly, are we still there "nation building" 3 years later.  The entire thing has been handled poorly by the administration since the end of major combat operations. Absolutely incompotently.  And many moderates who might tend to vote Republican decided to vote for Democrats to send a very clear message that they're pissed off too.
  3. Incredibly biased media coverage. This is a story that will probably not get told but it has gotten out in some channels just how left-wing the major media in the US has become.  For instance, for the first time in history, the New York Times did not endorse a single Republican house or senate candidate. Not one. That's how far left it's drifted and the NY Times is pretty representative (I think) of the major news outlets.  They have done an effective job of making Iraq look far worse than it actually is, have managed to not report the excellent economy we currently have, and have managed to ignore scandals by Democrats while spending weeks and weeks on things like Foley.

But really, item #3 only mattered because the Republicans had botched 1 and 2. And they paid for it.

Now, between now and 2008 we can see IF the right-wing fear mongering comes true. As a reminder so that we can come back to this...

The Republicans have claimed the Democrats will do the following:

  1. Pull us out of Iraq prematurely by cutting off funding.
  2. Raise taxes.
  3. Force Bush to only nominate moderate Supreme Court Justices.
  4. They will attempt to impeach Bush.

There were others but these are 3 that are most easily verified by 2008.

So what should the Republicans do between now and 2008? Well first they should pray that the Democrats act like deranged kooks. But failing that, they need to recognize that conservatives expect a lot from their representatives and if you want to represent us, you better be ready to get off your ass and do it and do it in a way that serves our interests (balanced budgets, lower taxes, secure borders, smaller government, not toadying up to incompetent Presidents, etc.).  Sure, the Democrats won't serve our interests either. But they're not pretending to be likely to get our votes.

 

democrat
20,585 views 50 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
If you only see corruption on one side, you'd better take the eyepatch off.

no eyepatch ted, in fact i addressed that in my statement that you selectively quoted...(democrat, but the party in power usually takes the hit),
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
jeffords (democrat, but the party in power usually takes the hit),


Jeffords WAS a republican, but then switched to Independent. However, other than his switch, I am unaware of any scandal attached to him.

But you do have Jefferson, Rangel, Reid and Pelosi. Now that they have the power, that stink will come out.
Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top
As for the increasing of taxes, the Dems are going to do it in such a way that they can claim in their ads that "no, we didn't raise taxes!" They're going to use the same fallacy that they did last year in colorado with their big tax increase here. To them, repealing tax-cuts or suspending them for a few years does not constitute a tax increase. What they're going to do is let the existing Bush tax cuts expire, effectively raising the tax rates, then claim "We didn't raise taxes!"
Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top
...the guy with the 90K in his freezer..


Everyone needs some cold hard cash on occassion, right?
Reply #32 from JoeUser Forums Top
What they're going to do is let the existing Bush tax cuts expire, effectively raising the tax rates, then claim "We didn't raise taxes!"


most of the tax cuts, and esp. the contended ones, don't even come up for renewal until 2010 or beyond... this house will only use those tax cuts in making deals with the administration, which means they will offer to extend cuts in exchange for things like, say, the min. wage increase or other causes they are working on... don't believe the pre-elcetion republican hype.
Reply #33 from JoeUser Forums Top
According to the FOX election polls that as of 11:15am on Nov 8 it's 49 R, 47 D and 2 I. That tells me we still control the senate.

HA-HA! You can try! WE still control the senate!

actually, right now, no one controls the senate. this is wrong.
Reply #34 from JoeUser Forums Top
According to the FOX election polls that as of 11:15am on Nov 8 it's 49 R, 47 D and 2 I. That tells me we still control the senate.


Except that those two independents have already said that they are caucusing with the Democrats, which effectively makes it 49 to 49 with two seats left to decide.

When it comes down to voting for leadership, you are going to be hard pressed to get Lieberman or Sanders to cast a vote for Republican control of the Senate--Lieberman because he has already publicly stated on numerous occassions that he wouldn't, and Sanders because he's a socialist.

I'd be surprised if FOX is actually trying to posit that the Rs are still in control--rather than saying that no one really knows who is going to control the Senate at this point.
Reply #35 from JoeUser Forums Top
All across the world........our enemies are celebrating the loss. That shows the real mistake made yesterday.
Reply #36 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think it is difficult to draw conclusions about the motivations of voters, though the pundits will spout (without fear of ever being proven wrong).

Here in Arizona, the results are a decidedly mixed bag: of the two Republicans with strong Bush ties, one lost big (Hayworth) & the other won big (Kyl); English-only & anti-immigration measures won big but so did a raise in the minimum wage, which will attract more illegal immigration; strengthening protection against eminent domain abuses won big but the definition of marriage initiative was soundly defeated.

No clear ideological trend in any of this. To me means people are much more specific-issue oriented than they are generally given credit for. And gains for the party out of power in mid-terms are hardly without historic precedent - in fact, this is the norm.
Reply #37 from JoeUser Forums Top
the only thing this election "proved" was that tip o'neill was wrong. all politics are not local as he contended and the GOP clung to up till the last minute.
Reply #38 from JoeUser Forums Top
As of 10:51 PST, it is:

GOP - 49
DNC - 50

Virginia is the last state, and Webb (D) leads by 1%. 99% of the precents are reporting, and there is a possible recount coming.

(Via CNN)
Reply #39 from JoeUser Forums Top
Another thing that occurred to me was that yesterday I heard alot about voters being cheated, disenfranchised, and mislead. Stuff like the right is going to 'steal another election'...

Now that the ballots are in... I don't hear any of that? One could conclude that the screamers only scream when they think they aren't going to get their way. Sounds like a pre-school child to me.
Reply #40 from JoeUser Forums Top
All across the world........our enemies are celebrating the loss.

who and where are these celebrations taking place?

the only world reaction i have seen so far is the european union president congratulating the democrats. is europe our enemy now? i didn't get that memo...
Reply #41 from JoeUser Forums Top
who and where are these celebrations taking place?
In terrorist safehouses I would imagine. Terrorists keep track of politics in the U.S., and no doubt they are happy democrats won.
Reply #42 from JoeUser Forums Top
This was an excellent election. I'm not necesarily pro-dem, but I'm very anti-Bush, and a Democratic victory is, possibly, the best news I could hear. Of course, there's still the issue of the Senate to be decided, but it's still possible that it could go to the Democrats. It's 49 for the Republicans, 48 for the Democrats, 2 independents (both of which lean Democrat), and one- Virginia- yet to be decided. There, Jim Webb is 7,000 votes ahead of George Allen. I can practically smell the recount. I have to extend my condolences to George Allen- that poor man almost had that race in his pocket, until he made his little "macaca" comment. Now, he may cost his party the Senate. Still, it's all great for a Bush-despiser. Bush is like a big ol' duck, with two legs, the House and the Senate. The Dems are ravenous, half-starved dogs, and they're currently gnawing one of the duck's legs, and they're hungrily eyeing the other. Thus, we have a lame duck. It's a rather bloody analogy, but clever, if I do say so myself.
Reply #43 from JoeUser Forums Top
An excellent national showing by the Dems. Complete victory.

Dems win the House with a +30 seat swing or so by the time counting is done
Dems win the Senate (barely). Congrats to Corker who was the sole bright spot for Republicans.
Dems win the Governor's mansions +6
Dems win State Legistlatures +8 or so

In fact, I can't see a single Dem incumbent who lost. Not one. I think GA-12 is still undecided by the Dem is leading by a thousand or so. I can't remember another election where the losing team didn't even pick up a seat or two.

Another thing that occurred to me was that yesterday I heard alot about voters being cheated, disenfranchised, and mislead. Stuff like the right is going to 'steal another election'...

Now that the ballots are in... I don't hear any of that? One could conclude that the screamers only scream when they think they aren't going to get their way. Sounds like a pre-school child to me.


Sheesh. You don't get it. We just smartened up and realized that if the elections were that easy to hack... then why not take advantage of it ourselves?
Reply #44 from JoeUser Forums Top
I doubt we'll hear a peep out of any of those 7,000 (or was it 70,000?) lawyers that were supposedly ready with lawsuits in hand. Elections won by Democrats are always clean, you know.
Reply #45 from JoeUser Forums Top

Sheesh. You don't get it. We just smartened up and realized that if the elections were that easy to hack... then why not take advantage of it ourselves?

It is refreshing to finally find someone admit that democrats are the election stealers (Washington 2004 anyone?).  So that means Dems steal 2 now, Reps 0.

Way to go!

Reply #46 from JoeUser Forums Top
If he vetos any of the Progressive Socialists policies like oh a National Health Care Plan.

How can anyone who supports the elderly, disabled and others support Socialized Medicine? Do they even fathom what a Socialized System does to the disabled and elderly? In the Socialized Health care System patients are put on a list, granted the health care is for the most part on par with non-Socialized Medicine countries, but priority on that list is determined by what contribution that individual gives to society. This is what makes that system so sinister in its execution. The elderly and disabled are put on the bottom of lists, in essence this system was designed with noble purposes, treat the poor, but at the same time it has a dark side effect it lets the elderly and disabled suffer.

This is definitely a case of a good intention paving the road to Hell, except anyone who views the system from a logically standpoint will realize this. Doing evil out of ignorance is the same as doing it out of full knowledge.

Granted, I may have evil tendencies but this system is so dark and morbid in that it can kill with having the general populace believing its a good system and this issue should be brought up not just here but countries where this system exists or am I the only one who sees this? If, I am the only who sees this than I will chalk that up to insanity.

On the Democrats winning...

All I have to state is this:

That I must say:

On this matter it would behoove me to talk about:

Nothing. I have nothing to say, state, or talk on. They won and all it means to me is that some Democrats beat some Republicans in some races. It doesn't speak to me of a entire agenda shift because if that was the case both parties would have been ousted. Seriously, how much difference is there between the two parties anymore. Besides a few key issues they are both so similar, corrupt, arrogant, financially nonconservative and pork-barrel lovers that the differences are truly minimal.

Both sides have proven not keep their promises.
Both sides state openly "They will work together" but only end up being divisive.
...ad infinitum

What I would truly wish to see the American People do is take a stand and kick both squarely in the ass with steel-toe boots. That we want a government that is united, keeps their oathes of office without having to sign a document after getting caught and work towards a future that ensures progress and prosperity for those who want it and not giving it out. We are Americans, we are citizens of the United States and I think its about damn time we quit b***hing and moaning, take a stand and inform ourselves, encourage debates and present a united front to the world. A divided front has only brought us nothing but death and problems, the solution is to unite like our Founding Fathers did so.

By unitiing as a people we can put our collective heads together and overcome anything.

The consequence if we don't is the eventual decline of the US to a state where it falls and if our nation falls its impact will crush the world economy for who knows how long.

(Sorry for any spelling and grammar mistakes)

- X
Reply #47 from JoeUser Forums Top
"i think you missed a major factor in yesterday's election brad.

the culture of corruption. the abramoff scandal, the foley / hastert scandal, bob ney, jeffords (democrat, but the party in power usually takes the hit), duke cunningham, the mishandling of katrina followed by (heck of a job brownie!) cronyism, billions of dollars just "lost" in Iraq & afghanastan with no accountability, abu ghirab, the loss of habeas corpus without a fight, ignoring the FISA court, 750 "signing statements" which go beyond the usual congratulatory stuff, and th ewhole arrogant "we can do whatever we want" mentality that the administration has not only done, but bragged about and shoved in everyone else's face over the past several years. "

I agree with your input on that. Not necessarily that Brad missed anything but all of the et cetera, The post-Katrina mess is certainly not exactly a real winner for the Republican party, nor Iraq obviously, also American's in the lower tax brackets that don't pay as much in taxes as the guys up top, do count every single dollar, and don't like to hear numbers like $300 billion and then equate them to the pile of rubble that is apparently Iraq.

One interesting thing, the price of gas, wasn't an issue in the last few months of the campaign, at least not in my market, but mark my words, within 6 months the price of gas will be higher again.

Reply #48 from JoeUser Forums Top
"But I am scratching my head as to why, exactly, are we still there "nation building" 3 years later. "
it figures.

it's hard to build a nation when first you build nations of terrorists.

I only hope the democrates have a better "vision" on the world of tommorow.
Reply #49 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dems in da house!
Reply #50 from JoeUser Forums Top
The reason we lost was because we lost faith with ourselves.